A historian from Bewdley is appealing for information and lost stories about her veteran grandad on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. 

56-year-old Sara Jennings was 17 years old when her grandad, Jack Lionel Cookson, passed away aged 72. 

A private in the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, Pte Cookson landed on the French beaches in June 1944 as part of the second or third wave of soldiers. 

Kidderminster Shuttle: Private Jack Cookson and his medals Private Jack Cookson and his medals (Image: Sara Jennings)

Ms Jennings said he fought his way through to Bremen in Germany as part of the 43rd Wessex Division, which was part of the XXX Corps that tried to reach the trapped 1st Airborne Division at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden. 

The historian said her grandad didn't speak much about the war before his death so she is now appealing to the community to find stories of her grandad's role during the war. 

Kidderminster Shuttle: Historian Sara Jennings Historian Sara Jennings (Image: Sara Jennings)

She said: "I have a bit of information from family and his service records including his service number, 5257709, but like many of those who fought, my grandad rarely spoke about what he had done during the war. 

"He only told my mum that 'he hadn't done much, he was just mopping up behind the main force'. It would be lovely to hear the more human side of my grandad's role in the war, so I would love people to get in touch if they served with him or recognised the name. 

"A lot of the people who served with my grandad will have sadly passed away now, but their relatives might even have stories about my grandad or the division he served in that they could share with me." 

Ms Jennings is hoping the 80th anniversary of D-Day might remind people about stories shared by veterans in their families and help get people talking.

She would also love to know who the other soldiers are in the pictures with her grandad and the significance of the mannequin. 

Her cousin has previously told Ms Jennings some stories of her grandad and the photos which she hopes will help jog people's memories. 

The pair believe Jack Cookson is on the left of the photo with the mannequin and the man on the right had his ear shot shortly after the photo was taken. 

There are also family stories of her grandad being stationed near the Germans in the village of Tripsrath where he went out with a battle dress full of grenades. 

In the same village, a cat also started meowing at them on a silent patrol so he picked it up and kept it in his battledress. 

Kidderminster Shuttle: Sara Jennings is looking for stories about her grandad and to identify his comrades Sara Jennings is looking for stories about her grandad and to identify his comrades (Image: Sara Jennings)

She added: "It is so important to keep these stories alive for the younger generation and it would mean the world to me if someone had more stories about my grandad." 

If you have any stories or information get in touch with Sara Jennings by emailing sarajennings@tiscali.co.uk